Following a successful stint on the West Coast earlier this season, the Indiana wrestling team embarked on another cross-country journey, this time heading east to take on Columbia University in a highly anticipated matchup. The Hoosiers secured a hard-fought 23-21 victory over the Lions, marking their first win over Columbia since 2010 and their second overall in the two schools’ history. Additionally, Indiana demonstrated its mettle at the Navy Classic on Saturday, finishing fourth in a stacked field of 12 teams, including three top-30 nationally ranked schools.
Hoosiers triumph over Columbia
In a strategic move, Indiana wrestling included an Ivy League team in its non-conference schedule for the third consecutive season, opting to take on Columbia University after two previous seasons of facing Princeton University. The Hoosiers traveled to Levien Gymnasium in New York City, where they engaged in a closely contested dual meet against the Lions. Indiana’s narrow 23-21 win marked the team’s first victory over Columbia in over a decade, with the Hoosiers’ ability to secure bonus points in four of their five wins ultimately proving to be the deciding factor.
The dual meet saw both teams split the 10 matches, with each side claiming five victories. However, Indiana’s bonus points, including two technical falls, one fall, and a major decision, gave them the edge they needed to secure the win. In contrast, Columbia’s bonus points came by way of two falls at 141 lbs. and 165 lbs.
Graduate student Angelo Rini made a triumphant return to his former stomping ground, defeating his Columbia opponent at 133 lbs. via a dominant 16-0 technical fall. Rini, a former Lion who spent five seasons at Columbia before transferring to Indiana for his final collegiate season, improved to 7-1 on the year and boasts an impressive 50% bonus point rate after this weekend’s performances.
In another standout display, graduate student Donnell Washington looked every bit as good as ever in his return to the 184 lbs. weight class, notching a technical fall victory over his Columbia opponent with a score of 19-3 in just over three minutes. This marked Washington’s second match of the season, and he will look to continue his winning ways in the coming weeks.
Other notable winners for the Hoosiers on Thursday night included graduate student Jacob Moran, redshirt sophomore Gabe Sollars, and graduate student Jacob Bullock. Moran improved to 6-1 on the season, while Sollars upped his record to 5-2 with a 57% bonus point rate. Bullock, meanwhile, advanced to 6-2 on the year, further solidifying his position in the team’s lineup.
Two Hoosiers win the Navy Classic
At the Navy Classic on November 23, Indiana wrestling faced stiff competition from 11 other teams at the Wesley A. Brown Field House in Annapolis, Maryland. The Hoosiers ultimately took fourth place in the tournament, scoring 94 points and narrowly trailing third-place Navy Military Academy, which accumulated 103 points.
Indiana boasted two champions at the Navy Classic, with Rini and Bullock standing atop the podium in their respective weight classes. Rini secured three bonus point wins en route to the final, where he edged No. 14 Bucknell University graduate student Kurt Phipps 3-2 in the 133 lbs. final.
Bullock continued his winning streak in Annapolis, going 4-0 on Saturday and notching one victory by technical fall with a score of 19-3 in the third period. This marked Bullock’s first tournament victory of the year, and he advanced his record to 6-2 in the process.
Other top performers for the Hoosiers at the Navy Classic included Moran, who took third place at 125 lbs., and redshirt freshman Logan Frazier, who secured fourth place at 133 lbs.
An additional five Hoosiers placed fifth and sixth on the podium, with graduate student Derek Gilcher taking fifth and No. 13 redshirt sophomore Tyler Lillard finishing sixth at 165 lbs. The battle for the starting spot at 165 lbs. between Gilcher and Lillard continues, with Lillard having won the initial wrestle-off at the beginning of the season and Gilcher evening the score at the Navy Classic. The starting spot for the remainder of the season remains uncertain.
Indiana’s next dual meet will pit them against Big Ten rival Illinois at the inaugural Big Ten Takedown Dual on December 6 in Indianapolis. The contest will be broadcast by the Big Ten Network, with doors set to open to fans at 4 p.m. This marks the first time the Hoosiers have competed in the state capital since 2010.
